At 7:52 a.m., American aviator Charles A. Lindbergh took
off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, on the
world’s first solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean
and the first ever nonstop flight between New York to Paris.

Lindbergh, a young airmail pilot, was a dark horse when he
entered a competition with a $25,000 payoff to fly nonstop
from New York to Paris.

He ordered a small monoplane, configured it to his own
design, and christened it the Spirit of St. Louis in tribute
to his sponsor–the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce.

Lindbergh’s achievement made him an international celebrity
and won widespread public acceptance of the airplane and
commercial aviation.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh
(February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974)